How are you? How are you working through the results of the election? I realize this is my business site, and so many articles for social media related to growing your business say leave politics out of it, don’t isolate any customers, but as a yoga teacher with both Love and Live in my business name I cannot remain silent. If you voted for Donald Trump I am not turning you away, I want to start dialogue. I want to understand your pain, your struggles, to understand why you would vote for him. It doesn’t make sense to me because I see a man that has done terrible things and sets a bad example for everyone. And perhaps you’ll come back and say the same thing about Hillary Clinton. I understand that she represents big business in a lot of ways, I also see a woman who’s had to do what she needed to do to succeed in a male-based society and career path. Clinton has broken through so many ceilings and I look up to her. When I look at Trump I see a man who is blatantly racist, has physically harmed women, and routinely bullies to get his way.

Our country is in a fragile state; violence is on the rise because so many people do not feel safe. Instead of blaming each other, let’s all take a deep breath and listen. And when you listen, stop the voice in your head from forming opinions, let go of your responses until the other person has fully finished talking. Then take a deep breath and take your turn to speak while they actively listen. We all have different life experiences and when we take a moment to listen we open the doors to empathy and healing. Please listen, please take the moment to ask an open-ended question and pause, hear them out. Respond back with what you heard them say, that will validate their feelings and help you both to connect. Take turns actively listening to build back up community and connection across our country.